Uh-Oh, I cut thru a stud under my deck.

[feminazi]

I was putting a couple of vents in the skirting under my deck and went a little crazy with the reciprocating saw. When I cut the opening for one of the vents, I cut entirely thru a stud.

Now what do I do? Can I crawl under there and maybe use some metal plates or wood pieces to reinforce the stud or does the whole thing have to be replaced?

Obviously, it's not the only support for the deck, but I don't want to just leave it that way.

Damn, I can't believe I did that!

:banghead:

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Apply a 'sister' stud

Cut a length of stud and glue and screw it to the side of the cut stud. Make the new one as long as you can fit. The damage will be completely mitigated and your deck will be safe.

Use a waterproof construction adhesive for the glue and use lag bolts to hold it on. Here's a simple way to make it all go easier.

Apply the adhesive to the side of the cut stud. Take the 'sister' stud and drive two nails into it, but don't go all the way. Put the sister stud into place and drive the nails into the cut stud. This is just to hold it temporarily. Now get a drill and drill some pilot holes for the lag bolts. Use a drill smaller in diameter than the lag bolts you will use. Now drive the lag bolts home with a ratchet and socket.

Voila!

Fixed and stronger than new.

[feminazi]

2. cool, thanks!

*

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Some added comments to the 'sister' stud thingie .......

You could skip the nails if you have clamps to hold it all together to drill the lag bolt holes.

Use **at least** two lag bolts above and two lag bolts below the cut part of the original stud. If you have sufficient room to use a longer sister stud, then go to three lag bolts above and three lag bolts below the cut in the original stud.

[NMDemDist2]

3. bbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrruuummmmmm

don't ya LOVE power tools??

hope H2S's solution works for ya and next time,

brum, brum

not

bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrruuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[feminazi]

5. oh, yeah!

i can't wait to get out the skill saw to cut the stud to size!

:woohoo: